Electrical device



March 3l, 1936. c. M. PETERSEN ELECTRICAL DEVICE Filed July l2, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR CARL M. PETERSEN A//l//f//V//V VllllllllallllATTORNEY C. M. PETERSEN Y ELECTRICAL DEVICE March 31, v1936.

Filed July l2, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR CARL M. PETERSEN BYATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3l, 1936 UNITED STATES crear HCE 9 Claims.

M y invention relates to devices for controlling electrical circuits andparticularly to means adapted selectively to control the now of currentin alternative circuit arrangements and to make and break the circuitselected.

Heretofore when a circuit has been variable to control two or moreelectrical devices such as electric lights, heating elements or the likeor when the electrical devices have had two stages of operation such asbright and dim, series and parallel, or have been adjustable in otherrespects, it has been necessary to provide one controlling means as aselector for effecting the desired variations in the circuits or circuitadjustment and to provide a'separate switch for making and breaking thecircuit.

In order to avoid the use of two separate means, one of which acts as aselector and the other of which serves as a switch, it has been commonpractice to employ means constructed for successive movementthrough'such stages as low, high and off positions but these have had tobe moved through high or some intermediate position before breaking thecircuit. This feature is often objectionable and limits the possible variations and flexibility of operation oi the circuit.

In order to overcome the disadvantage and objections inherent in the useof two separate control elements or a single element of a progressivenature as referred to above, I have devised unitary means operable tovary one or more electrical circuits through any desired number ofstages or adjustments and which at the same time is operable to make and`break the circuit in any of its positions of adjustment without passingthrough intermediate stages or positions.

In accordance with my invention the circuit controlling mechanismembodies the features of both a selector and a switch. The selectingelements of the device are adapted to be moved to various positions toconnect or adjust any one or more circuits or circuit elements so as toobtain the desired ilow of current in the circuit and the switchingelements of the device are operable independently of the selectingelements so that the circuit completed by the selector may be made orbroken at any time and when in any of its positions or adjustments.Preferably the device is so constructed that a single operating handlemay be used and this handle when moved in one direction actuates theselector and when moved in the opposite direction actuates the switch.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a device forcontrolling electrical circuits movable either to turn the circuit on oroi or to effect various adjustments in the circuit.

Another object of my invention is to provide a (Ci. 20G-18) unitarystructure embodying elements having both selecting and switching action.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device in which anoperating handle is movable in one direction to vary an electricacircuit and is movable in another direction to make break. the circuit.

A further object of Vmy invention is to provide a unitary structurehaving rotatable elements therein for effecting variation in the circuitand for turning the circuit on and oi-S, together with aconventionaioperating handle rotatable in one direction to eect oneoperation and rotatable in the opposite direction to effect the otheroperation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which is simpleand inexpensive to construct and which is compact and easilymanufactured and installed. A further object of my invention is toprovide novel means for connecting the handle and operating members of aswitch or other device.

These and other objects and features of my invention will appear fromthe following description thereof in which reference is made to thepreferred form of my invention illustrated in the ngures of thedrawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of one form of device embodying myinvention, y

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the form of my invention shownin Fig. l taken on the line 2 2 looking downward,

Fig. 3 is a Alnorizontal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l,looking upward,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the handle of the device taken on theline 4 5,

Fig. 5 is a perspective of certain parts of the switch shown inseparated position,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration showing one manner in which thedevice may be employed for controlling a typical electrical circuit, and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of a typical arrangement of thestationary contacts of the selector and switch.

In the form of my invention illustrated in the iigures of the drawings,the selector and switch are mounted in a body of moulded insulatedmaterial 2, formed with a recess 4 in the upper face thereof forreceiving the selector and with a recess 6 formed in the lower face ofthe insulating body for receiving the switch. The recesses 4 and 6 arecircular in shape and are each formed with a circularly arranged seriesof ratchet faces 8 in the bottom thereof. Each s'eries in theconstruction shown comprises six of the faces 8 and these are soarranged that only a thin wall of insulating material lseparates the tworecesses. A boss I2 extends upwardly from the bottom of each recess sothat the ratchet faces are located in an annular depression in eachrecess. A hole Ml extends through the boss l2 in axial alignment withthe recesses l and t and provides an opening through which operatingmeans for the selector and switch may extend.

The upper and lower faces of the body 2 are parallel and formed withsuitable channels for receiving electrical conductors for connectionwith the switch and. selector. The lower face of the body 2 is formedwith a channel l@ through which a lead i8 may pass whereas the upperface of the body member is provided with two oppositely located channelsZ and 22 in which suitable electrical connections 26 and 2% connected tothe selector are positioned. The bottom of the housing is provided witha cover plate 2t and insulating material 3G secured to the insulatingbody by pins 32 extending through apertures 316. The housing cover 36 isformed with an upwardly extending threaded neck 3d to which a nut il@ issecured for fastening the device to a suitable support 32. That portionof the cover adjacent the neck 38 is provided with an enlarged portionlll forming an in-turned shoulder beneath which an annular flange it ofthe operating handle lll may engage to prevent separation of the handlefrom the device. The handle extends beyond the end of the ne'ck 38 so asto be easily grasped and may be knurled or otherwise formed on the endas desired.

The handle J8 is positioned axially of the recesses l and t in theinsulating body and in alignment with the hole it so that rotation ofthe handle will effect rotation of contact members of the switch andselector located in the recesses il and 6.

The construction of the insulating body and associated parts describedabove present a compact housing within which the electrical elements ofthel device may be located in a convenient manner. However, it will beapparent that the form and construction of the housing and thearrangement of the parts therein may be varied at will and in any casetheir form will depend in large measure on the particular use for whichthe device is employed. In the form of my invention illustrated, thedevice is adapted for use as a canopy switch by means of which two ormore lights may be connected to a source of current so that either oneor the other may be connected to the current source in series or bothmay be connected in parallel thereto. As hereinafter described, thelights may be turned on or off in any position of adjustment of thelighting circuit and for this purpose the device is provided with aselector having relatively movable contacts adapted to vary the ow ofcurrent in the circuit and is provided with a switch for turning thecircuit on and on?.

The switch illustrated is mereca the lowin-4 Wardly facing recess 6 ofthe insulating body 2 and is provided with a stationary contact 5tlocated on one of the inclined faces of the ratchet 8. Each of theratchet faces extends thro-ugh an arc of approximately 60 degrees andthe contact 50 is located on that face adjacent the inner end of thechannel I6 in which is located the lead aoeacoe with the stationarycontact 5@ and, as shown, is in the form of a disc of conductingmaterial having three upwardly inclined spring contact lingers allspaced approximately degrees apart adjacent the periphery of the disc inposition to move over the ratchet faces 8. The contact fingers tend tourge the rotatable contact downwardly so that the center thereof isspaced a short distance from the boss l2but is yieldably movable axiallyof the switch.

The rotatable contact 52 of the switch is actuated to move one oranother of the contact iingers 5&1 alternately into and out ofengagement with the stationary contact 5t by suitable means serving torotate the contact 52 in one direction only and to permit free rotationof the actuating means in the reverse direction without moving therotatable contact therewith.` For this purpose the contact disc 52 isprovided with a centrally located aperture 5t from which extend radialcuts 58. One end of the material of the disc adjacent each cut is raisedso as to form a series of inclined ratchet teeth 6@ on the lower face ofthe disc with the teeth inclined oppositely to the inclined contactfingers 5t. A headed member 62 formed of conducting material extendsthrough the aperture 56 and into the hole lll of the boss l2 so as tohold the contact 52 in position for rotation thereof. The upper face ofthe head 641 of the member 62 is formed with a complementary series ofratchet teeth d@ which are positioned to engage teeth G of the rotatablecontact and move the spring contacts thereof vover the ratchet faces 8when rotated in one direction (clockwise as shown in Fig. l) Rotation ofthe member G2 in the opposite direction causes the teeth G6 thereof topass idly over the teeth t@ of the contact 52 without rotating the same.The yielding y character of spring contact fingers 5t permits thecentral portion of the disc to move axially suiciently to enable theteeth on the disc and headed member to ride over each other easily whenmoved in a counterclockwise direction and insures proper engagement ofthe ratchet teeth when rotating the member 52 to move the contacts overthe ratchet faces d.

The selector for varying the iiow of current through the circuit islocated in the upwardly facing recess and is provided with twostationary contacts 68 and lil each of which extends through an arc ofapproximately 120 degrees and covers two faces of the ratchet. Thesecontacts are separated from each other at their adjacent ends by thevertical spacing of the ratchet faces and are separated at theiropposite ends by the space of two ratchet faces which have no contactsthereon. The contact S8 is connected to a lead 2li in the channel 2tWhereas contact l0 is connected to a lead 2t in the channel 22. Therotatable contact l2 of the selector is in the form of a disc similar tocontact 52 of the switch but formed with two spring contact ngers 'lillocated 180 degrees apart and inclined downwardly to engage thestationary contacts @d and lll mounted upon the upwardly facing ratchetfaces in the bottom of the recess 6. Upon rotation of the contact'lZ thengers M are selectively moved into positions in which a circuit iscompleted through either the contact 68 alone, the contact lll alone orthrough both contacts 68 and l0, as desired. 'Ihe rotatable contact thusserves as a selecting member movable to vary the lflow of current in theelectrical circuit as desired.

Actuation of the selector is effected independently of the switch byrotation of the movable contact or selecting member 'i2 one directiononly, oppositely to the direction of rotation of the rotatable contactof the switch. Rotation is preferably eiected by means of a member 16formed of conducting material and secured to the member 62 of the switchto rotate therewith. The member 'l5 is provided with a head i8 providedwith ratchet teeth 80 inclined oppositely to the teeth 6G of the membert2. These teeth cooperate with complementary teeth 82 formed on therotatable contact l2 about the centrally located aperture 84 in saidmember. The teeth 32 may be formed in the same manner as the teeth onthe rotatable contact 52 but are oppositely inclined. Thus rotation ofthe member i6 in one direction (counterclockwise as shown in Fig. l)causes the spring Contact ngers ld of the selecting member to be movedselectively into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts 68and lt. The movement of the selecting member is independent oi theswitch and is unaiiected by the position of the contacts of the switchso that variations of adjustments of the circuit may be made when thecurrent is either on or oi. When the switch is actuated and the members62 and 'it are rotated in the opposite direction the ratchet teeth it@ride over the teeth 32 on the selecting member without rotating thesame. The spring contact firigers ld permit the rotatable contact i2 tomove axially as in the switch elements so that the'member 76 may rotatefreely when idling and proper engagement of the ratchet teeth is insuredwhen member 'lt is moved to actuate the selector.

While the elements of the switch and selector may be operated by anysuitable means, l have shown in Figs. l and i a preferred form ofoperating handle and connecting means by which a yielding connection ismade which tends to cause the contacts of the device to snap quicklyfrom one position to another thus insuring rapid make and break of thecontacts. For this purpose a handle @i8 is provided which is hollow inthe center and formed with a ap strip of yieldable material tt such asspring steel, which has one end thereof secured to the handle and theother end engaging in a slot 88 in top of the head it of the member lor" the selector.v In order to prevent dislocation ot the strip 36 fromthe slot tit when the strip is flexed upon rotation of the handle, theinner surface thereof is provided with. shoulders @il spaced from thestrip t@ as shown in Fig. 4. These shoulders serve to permit limitedrotation of the strip before .being brought into engagement therewith.Upon engagement of one of the shoulders Sil with the flexible strip itmoves the strip positively until the rotatable contact has been carriedover the end of the ratchet face engaged thereby. The strip beingsubject at that time to a large twist or torque tends to snap back intoits normal position midway between the shoulders Sil. The rotatablecontact thus moves.I

rapidly away from the contact or face previously engaged and is broughtquickly into engagement with the next face or contact.

In using the form of my invention described above in a typical circuitarrangement the stationary contact 68 of the selector is connected bythe lead 24 through an electrical device such as an incandescent lamp 92to one pole of a source of current 94. The contact 10 of the selector isconnected by lead 26 through la different electrical device such asincandescent lamp 96 to the same pole of the source of current. Thestationary contact 50 of the switch is connected through the lead I8 tothe opposite pole of the source of current 94 and the rotatable contacts52 and 12 of the switch and selector respectively are electricallyconnected by the members S2 and l.

Rotation of the operating handle i8 in a counter-clockwise directioncauses the selecting member l2 of the selector to bring the springcontact lil into any desired position for completing a selected circuit.if it is desired to have only lamp t2 turned on the handle 48 is rotatedto bring one spring contact ld into engagement with stationary contact68 while the other engages one of the blanlr ratchet faces 3. A circuitis then completed from one pole of the source of current through'lamp92, lead 2li, stationary contact t8, selecting member l2, switchcontacts ll and 52 and back through lead it to the opposite pole ofcurrent source te. When in this position the lamp 92 may be turned onand off as desired by clockwise rotation ci the operating handle d8without disturbing the setting of the selector contacts. y

It it should be desired to use the lamp 96 instead of light selectingmember 'l2 ls rotated in a counterclockwise direction to bring onespring finger 'll into engagement with stationary contact it while theother engages a blank ratchet face. A circuit is then completed throughlamp @t but not through light 92. In this position of the selectingmember, as in all others, the switch may be operated independently or"the selecting member to turn the light on and ci without altering thecircuit adjustment.

lf both lamps 92 and 9S are to be used they may be connected in parallelto the source of current by rotation oi the selecting member to bringone contact nger "it into engagement with stationary contact SS and theother into engagement with stationary contact lil. Both lights are thenconnected in parallel to the current source 9G and as before the switchmay be independently operated to turn the lights on and on". The usualand natural manner o operating switches to turn circuits on and ofi isby rotation in a clockwise direction and have therefore illustrated anddescribed an arrangement in which the switch elements of the device areso operated. However, it is apparent that the elements may each beoperated in the reverse direction if preferred.

The circuit arrangement shown has been chosen :for purposes ofillustration because it is one which is easily understood and in commonuse. However, the device may be used in any other circuit arrangementwherein it is desired to eiect vari-l ations in the iiow of current inone circuit or a plurality of separate circuits and to permit thecircuit to be made or broken at will without change in the circuitadjustment. A typical alternative use of the switch would be forcombined selection and control in radio circuits where it is desirableto provide the minimum number of controlling lmobs. The type of handleand connection shown and described are not essential to the operation ofthe switch as any desired form of handle or other type of operatingmeans or mechanism may be used as desired.

In the foregoing description of my invention I have referred only tothat form thereof which is illustrated in the drawings. It will be seen,however, that the location of the switch and selector in the housing maybe reversed or they may be arranged so that the switch and selector areboth located in the same planeor on one face of the insulating body. Itis also possible to change the form and arrangement of either theselector or the switch or the form and construction of the housing inmany respects without departing from said switch and contact membersbeing in theform of oppositely directed cooperating ratchet elements soarranged that the movable switch member of one switch is movable only inone direction and the movable switch member of the other switch is.movable o nly in the opposite direction and manually operable meansrotatable about a common axis for actuating said movable switch membersindependently.

2. A circuit control device comprising an insulating body, twoindependently operable switches each embodying a contact membersupported by said insulated body and a movable switch member forengaging said contact member, said switch and contact members being inthe form of oppositely directed cooperating ratchet elements so arrangedthat the movable switch f vmember of one switch is' movable only in onedirection and the movable switch member of the other switch is movableonly in the opposite direction, members rotatable about a common axisfor operating said movable switch members and manually operable meansfor actuating said rotatable members.

3.` A circuit control device comprising an insulating body havingindependently operable switches located on opposite sides thereof, saidswitches comprising contact members supported by said body and switchmembers rotatable about a common axis for engaging said contact memberand manually operable means for actuating said switch membersindependently including an operating handle, a one-way connectionbetween said vhandle and the movable switch member of one of saidswitches for' rotating the same only in one direction and an oppositelydirected oneway connection between said handle andv the movable switchmember of the other switch for rotating the same only in the oppositedirection.

4. A circuit control device comprising an inl .sulating body havingindependently operable Vswitches located on opposite sides thereof, saidindependently including an element extending thru said insulating body.

5. A fixture switch comprising a tubular mounting member, an insulatingbody carried by said mounting member, independently operable switcheslocated on opposite sides of said body each of which includes a contactsupported by said body, a movable switch member Afor engaging saidcontact, said switch and contact members being in the form of oppositelydirected ratchet elements so arranged that the movable switch member ofone switch is movable only in one direction and the movable switchmember of the other switch is movable only in the opposite direction andmeans for actuating the movable switch member of each of said switchesindependently extending thru said tubular mounting member.

6. A xture switch comprising a tubular u mounting member, an insulatingbody carried by tubular mounting member.

'7. A fixture switch comprising a tubular mounting member, an insulatingbody carried by said mounting member, independently operable switcheslocated on opposite sides of said insulating body, said switchescomprising contact members supported by said body and switch membersrotatable about a common axis for engaging said contact members andmeans for actuating each of said switches independently extending thrusaid tubular mounting member including an operating handle, a one-wayconnection between said handle and the rotatable switch member of oneswitch for rotating the same in one direction only and an oppositelydirected one-way connection between said handle and the rotatable switchmember of the other switch for rotating the same only in the oppositedirection.

8. A xture switch comprising a tubular mounting member, an insulatingbody carried by y said mounting member, independently operable Switcheslocated in spaced relation with a partition between the same, saidswitches comprising contact members supported by said body and switchmembers' rotatable about the common axis for engaging said contactmembers, said switch and contact members being in the form of oppositelydirected ratchet elements so arranged that the movable switch member ofone switch is rotatable only in vone direction and the movable switchmember of the other switch is rotatable only in the opposite directionand manually operable means for actuating said switches independentlyextending thru said tubular mounting member and including an elementextending thru said partition.

9. A -switch comprising relatively rotatablev

